A Florida Fall

October in the garden

Color The Landscape With Berries, Flowers And Foliage

October 2, 1999|By Tom MacCubbin, Special to the Sentinel

When the crape myrtle blossoms fade and the caladium leaves shrivel, what is left for fall? It's almost a forgotten season when it comes to landscaping, but there are numerous plants with fall interest.

Take time during the cooler weather to survey the landscape. Flower beds are probably ready for fresh color, and open areas are waiting for trees or shrubs. Make plans to have something in bloom, something with leaves starting to change color, something with berries ripening. You also can add a few of your own decorations to duplicate a traditional fall harvest.

These seasonal suggestions might be all that are needed to welcome fall.

More color for fall

Add deciduous trees for summer shade and fall leaf color. Trees with especially attractive fall foliage include dogwood, red maple, river birch and sweet gum. Fall is a stress-free time for planting trees.

Select shrubs with a seasonal change. Look for good yellow, orange and red foliage color from blueberries, crape myrtles and nandinas. Set them against a backdrop of greenery for a burst of fall color.

Only fall offers colorful fruit displays. Berries of American beauty bush, hollies, pyracantha and wax myrtles accent the landscape. Many also provide food for wildlife.

Flowering shrubs add special Florida interest to fall landscapes. Enjoy several months of blooms from cassia shrubs and sasanqua camellias.

Duplicate the fall harvests of Northern landscapes with displays of pumpkins, gourds and bales of hay at entrances and patios.

Chrysanthemums

Garden chrysanthemums are a sure sign of fall. They have started arriving at garden centers in an assortment of colors. Many bloom repeatedly through spring. Also add some cool-season annuals to bring out the fall displays.

How to care for garden mums

Plant in a full-sun or lightly shaded location.

Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to the surface of the soil.

Keep the soil moist; water when the surface soil begins to dry.

Feed monthly with a granular or liquid general garden fertilizer.

Prune old flowering stems to the base of the plant.

Control garden flea hoppers as needed to prevent yellowing foliage.

Leave plants in the ground after flowering to bloom again during spring.